DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS.
CHAPTER 1:
HER LOVE:
It was the final evening of the Tanabata festival that stretched on for a week.
Orihime was dressed in a pure red Kimono with white flowers, bordered black near the hem. It clung to her curvaceous body and complemented her figure greatly. Her hair was bundled together in a bun held in place by a red hair-clip. Her bangs as usual framed her face.
She walked together with her best friend Tatsuki.
Tatsuki was forced against her will to wear a blue Kimono with turquoise and mauve flowers. The streets were crowded and every shop in sight was brightly decorated in colorful streamers and Toami to symbolize good luck and wealth.
Orihime munched on a daifuku as she followed Tatsuki around. Despite her cheerful demeanor she was feeling melancholy.
They came across a bamboo tree with many vibrant Tanzaku papers hanging from the branches. Orihime stopped.
"Do you want to make a wish on a Tanzaku paper, Orihime?"
Tatsuki asked, her hands held across her chest and eyes raised in query.
Orihime pondered her answer.
"I am not sure, Tatsuki Chan"
She stretched.
She was contemplating her answer when she caught sight of Ichigo walking with Rukia.
The sight made her heart twist.
It has almost been a week now, since her silent promise.
"Yes, Tatsuki Chan. I think I will make a wish"
She took a colorful piece of paper and wrote down her wish and tied it to a branch on the bamboo tree.
She walked away with Tatsuki sneaking a few glances in Ichigo's direction.
For years, she has loved him, cherished him. But he was hardly aware of it. She thought of his wild orange hair and typical frown that contradicted his kinder interior. She smiled despite herself.
Their first encounter was outside Ichigo's house. It was late at night and the inhabitants of Karakura town had retired to bed. Orihime was carrying on her back the limp body of, her brother Sora. He was bleeding and dying and she knew it. She knocked on the door of the Kurosaki clinic. A young boy her age with wild orange hair peeked out.
An older man, obviously the boy's father, rushed to Orihime's side and removed Sora off her back, carrying him to the clinic.
"Ichigo watch her,"
His father asked the boy to keep her company while Isshin did his best to try and save Sora. At first the boy fidgeted not knowing what to do or say. He then tried to engage her in a conversation to get her mind off her brother.
"Where are your parents?"
He asked her.
Orihime's trembling body froze for an instant before she resumed her sobbing and replied,
"My brother is my only family,"
Reality hit her. If Sora died, she would have no one to call family.
She broke into tears.
"He ll be alright"
The boy assured her. She looked up at him and smiled weakly. She noticed the concern reflected in his chocolate brown eyes and felt the need the weep into his chest. She held back, but she would cherish his kindness. She lost Sora that night.
She later met the orange haired teen at high school. She heard from Tatsuki about his mother. She felt sorry for him. She knew the pain of losing a loved one for she had lost a brother herself.
She watched him, a troubled teenage who stumbled along life, haunted by the memories of his past as it rained down on him. She sensed his pain better than those around him. She understood that his frown was a symbol of his disappointment in himself. She understood that he felt incompetent since all he could do was watch helplessly as the people who he desired to protect faded into the darkness. He would always blame himself for his mother's death. And she knew that better than anyone else.
And thought she knew she watched helpless unable to ease his restless heart.
Unaware she fell in love with him.
She watched as the black haired shinigami woman waltzed into his life. She effected upon him a transformation that changed his life for the better. With the power she gave him, he was finally able to protect his loved ones. The downpour no longer rendered him defenseless. Inside of him, the rain ceased to be and the sun began to shine, slowly but surely. And though it made her happy she also felt envious of the black haired Shinigami. She was happy that it was finally summer at Ichigo's world. But she was not the one who stopped the rain. It was Rukia.
She had watched them grow closer and closer. Rukia treated him like she did the others. But deep inside, he was different. Orihime knew that rukia saw Kaien in Ichigo. When Byakuya had beaten the pulp out of Ichigo, she had suffered his pain as her own. Ichigo was Rukia's redemption. Orihime knew that to Ichigo, Rukia was more than a friend. Orihime was left to fade in the background.
But that did not deter her. She would continue to love him. He was etched across her heart, and nothing would erase him. But the pain of loving and never being loved in return was getting to her. She felt jealousy of Rukia which was so unlike her. That is why she finally made up her mind to give up on Ichigo.
She had to move on, accept the reality that to Ichigo she was merely a part of the gang or a friend of a friend.
On the Tanzaku paper she had wished that she could find a way into his heart. But she was also aware that not all wishes come true. But Orihime was hopelessly in love.
"Orihime"
Tatsuki yelled.
"Hurry up, or we will be late for the fireworks."
She gestured orihime to walk faster and catch up to her. Orihime shook her head in an attempt to rid herself of thoughts of a certain boy. She ran after Tatsuki.
